Convertible plush toy with storage

ABSTRACT

A convertible plush toy can convert between two interconnected reversible shapes. The first shape is that of a plush buddy, such as a teddy bear, that may be reversed into a second, ball shape. The construction and relationship of the ball form to the teddy bear abdomen creates a hidden hollow storage compartment within the plush buddy. The ball size, the abdomen measurements and construction, and the shared opening are designed in such a way to allow the internalized form to support the externalized form, while providing enough independence to avoid distortion of the externalized shape. The ball configuration can be designed in a semi-rigid form, such as with an external plush, internal batting and inner lining, so that the ball retains its shape when externalized and also provides definition to the storage space when internalized.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/850,217, filed Mar. 25, 2013, currently pending, which claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/615,009, filed Mar. 23, 2012, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to toys and, more particularly, to toys that can be altered between two different shapes that results in a toy having three distinct purposes.

Plush toys have long been enjoyed by children of all ages. The worth of such a toy often extends beyond its ability to entertain and frequently becomes a source of comfort and safety—in other words, a buddy. Balls of all sizes and shapes are likely to have been one of man's earliest toy forms and one cannot imagine how different human culture would appear without this simplest of toy.

While there are multitudes of forms for plush toys and hundreds of different types of balls, there has been no toy that has successfully combined the intrinsic value of the plush buddy with the extrinsic functions of a toy ball and an article for storage and transport of small items.

There is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,399 a changeable toy article that is transformable from one shape associated with a sporting activity to a second shape associated with the same sporting activity. The objects are intended to provide fans with means of supporting their team through use of the shapes. The design is such that the shapes are distinct and not sufficiently similar in shape to allow a common portion of the object to form both shapes (i.e., they are not reversible, but rather one shape must be completely exposed, then simply tucks into the other and vice versa).

U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,938 discloses a device with a design in which a toy is manipulated through an aperture to reveal a second spherical shape. The specific intent of the design is to provide an educational toy in which an animal shape can be replaced with a globe shape marked by the geographical habitat of the animal.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,264 discloses a convertible stuffed figure in which one figure is reversed upon itself to reveal a second figure. The concept described is that of two figures that are strategically attached to allow inversion of one figure into the other during the reversal process.

As can be seen, there is a need for a plush toy with two, interconnected reversible shapes, the first shape being that of a toy buddy that may be reversed into a second, ball shape, where the toy buddy is designed to create an internal storage compartment hidden therewithin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a toy comprises an invertible body movable between a first animal configuration and a second ball configuration; and an enclosed space formed in an abdomen region when the invertible body is in the first animal configuration.

In another aspect of the present invention, a toy comprises an invertible body movable between a first animal configuration and a second ball configuration; an opening formed in the invertible body, the opening having first and second edges that are operable to be secured together when the body is in either the first animal configuration or the second ball configuration to close the opening; and an enclosed space, defined by the outer surface of the toy in the second ball configuration, in an abdomen region when the invertible body is in the first animal configuration.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a convertible plush toy, in a ball configuration, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the convertible plush toy of FIG. 1, illustrating an initial transition from the ball configuration to a bear configuration;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the convertible plush toy of FIG. 1 in the bear configuration;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the convertible plush toy of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the convertible plush toy of FIG. 1 in transition from the ball configuration to the bear configuration;

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view showing further transformation from the ball configuration to the bear configuration;

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view showing even further transition from the ball configuration to the bear configuration;

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of the bear configuration, illustrating a hidden, enclosed space formed therewithin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a convertible plush toy that can convert between two interconnected reversible shapes. The first shape is that of a plush buddy, such as a teddy bear, that may be reversed into a second, ball shape. The construction and relationship of the ball form to the teddy bear abdomen creates a hidden hollow storage compartment within the plush buddy. The ball size, the abdomen measurements and the shared opening are designed in such a way to allow the internalized form to support the externalized form, while providing enough independence to avoid distortion of the externalized shape. Minimizing distortion of the external shapes is a challenge that may be accomplished by several unique means. First, the abdomen of the buddy may contain a contained, spherical shape, stuffing compartment. This stuffing-filled compartment serves the dual purposes of providing support to the body of the buddy form as well as contributing to the spherical shape of the ball form. Furthermore, the ball configuration can be designed in a semi-rigid form, such as with an external plush, internal batting and inner lining, so that the ball retains its shape when externalized and also provides definition to the storage space when internalized.

Embodiments of the present invention are drawn to an object that can assume a completely different shape than the original shape however, the two shapes are intimately related to create a third component, of a hollow storage unit. In particular, and as an example of the present invention, a spherical or ball shape can be inverted to form an abdomen and storage area of the second shape, in this example, a teddy bear.

Embodiments of the present invention include an object made from a cloth like material which is the form of a ball (whether it be spherical or elliptical, for example), such that it forms any convex shape that makes up all balls. The convex ball shape, cloth like material has an opening which provides access to the second configuration, an animal which is attached to the first configuration and stored inside and, thus, is used to create the form of the ball. By removing the stuffing/form from the first configuration (ball) through an aperture, common to both configurations, the second configuration (animal) is formed and the ball convexity becomes the animal's abdomen, a now concave hollow area. The end result is that the shape of the first configuration creates the second configuration, the abdomen of the animal. When the first material has been inverted into the second material, through the opening, the second material completely surrounds the first material, making the first object/original object unidentifiable, but necessary to create the second configuration, not just stored within. The conversion of these two different shapes and creation of a third shape, hollow concavity, can occur indefinitely.

To return from the second configuration, with the hollow storage space, back to its original ball shape, the abdomen, head and appendages are inverted in the same manner as was the first shape/configuration. The stuffing that has been confined into a spherical section making up the front of the abdomen, is essentially pushed toward the periphery of the ball form, which helps create a spherical external shape when the buddy has been internalized.

Unlike the other convertible toys where each shape are merely stored inside each other, this purposeful intimate connection, created by the present invention, between these two spaces creates an actual hollow storage area that can be used to store third party items, such as gaming devices, music devices, action figures, and the like. Furthermore, no other convertible toy utilizes the present design of confining the stuffing to a specific compartment that will contribute to the shape of both forms.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 8, a convertible plush toy is adapted to be to be manipulated between two configurations, with the creation of an internal compartment by one of the configurations. The convertible plush toy is in form of a ball when the first configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, and in the form of a teddy bear when in the second configuration, as shown in FIG. 4. It is understood, however, that the teddy bear of FIG. 4 is illustrative of any number of different configurations that plush toy may assume.

In the illustrated embodiment, when the plush toy is in the first configuration as represented in FIG. 1, an outer surface 22 of the convertible plush toy is an exposed fabric having the shape of a ball. The exposed fabric forming outer surface 22 may include a number of panels that are stitched or otherwise secured together, or alternatively may be a one-piece member. The outer surface 22 defines facing edges 24, 26 that are joined together at spaced apart ends 27, between which an opening 28 is formed. The edges 24, 26 are fitted with a suitable closure structure between the ends 27, which representatively may be in the form of a zipper, hook and loop strips, snaps, buttons, or the like. In this manner, when the plush toy is in the first configuration, the opening 28 can be closed so that the ball configuration has a continuous, uninterrupted outer surface.

In the first configuration of FIG. 1, the interior of convertible plush toy is occupied by a compressible structure as noted in FIG. 2 which, when exposed, enables the convertible plush toy to assume the alternate configuration. As shown in FIG. 4 and as noted above, the alternate configuration may define an outer surface 30 in the form of a teddy bear or other character. It is understood, however, that the alternate configuration may have any desired shape and is not limited to animal or character shapes. In the case of a teddy bear shape as shown in FIG. 4, the outer surface 30 forming the animal-type alternate configuration may have a head 32, arms 34 and legs 36. These features of the convertible plush toy can be compressed and tucked into the interior of plush toy when in the first configuration of FIG. 1, which is illustrated in FIG. 2. In the ball form, illustrated in FIG. 2, the internalized form of the buddy abdomen, with its contained stuffing-filled compartment 22B has been pushed to the periphery, contributing to the ball-shape. The relationship of this stuffing-filled compartment 22B to the buddy abdomen and ball form is further illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 8.

FIGS. 5 through 8 schematically illustrate the manner in which plush toy (1) is converted from the ball configuration of FIG. 1 to the teddy bear configuration of FIG. 4; and (2) converts to create an internal storage compartment 22A defined by the surface material 22 of the ball configuration.

First, the user operates the closure structure to separate the edges 24, 26 and thereby expose opening 28. The user moves the edges 24, 26 apart from each other, as shown by arrows 40. Simultaneously, the user applies a forward force on the rear area of plush toy that tends to force the forwardly facing internal contents of the plush toy outwardly through opening 28. In this manner, the various features making up the teddy bear begin to emerge through the opening 28, as shown in FIG. 6.

The user continues to maintain edges 24, 26 apart from each other while continuing to push the internal contents of the plush toy outwardly, as shown in FIG. 7, which causes continued outward movement of the internal features of the plush toy through the opening 28. Simultaneously, the ball configuration is progressively pushed inward through the backside of the teddy bear configuration. The surface material 22 of ball configuration lines the internal form of the teddy bear abdomen form with the creation of the enclosed space 22A noted in FIGS. 3, 4 and 8. Finally, the entire internal contents of plush toy are moved outwardly through the opening 28 so as to be fully exposed, as shown in FIG. 8. Because they are compressed when plush toy is in the ball configuration, the various features making up the teddy bear configuration of FIG. 4, such as the head 32, arms 34 and legs 35, essentially “spring” outwardly through the opening 28 during outward movement of the internal contents of the plush toy. The user then moves the edges 24, 26 back together to close the opening 28. In this manner, the edges 24, 26 are located at the back of the teddy bear configuration assumed by the plush toy. The closure structure is then operated to secure the edges 24, 26 together. These steps are reversed in order to convert plush toy from the teddy bear configuration of FIG. 4 to the ball configuration of FIGS. 1 and 2.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A toy comprising: an invertible body movable between a first animal configuration and a second ball configuration; an enclosed space formed in an abdomen region when the invertible body is in the first animal configuration; and a stuffing-filled compartment up a front of an abdomen portion of the first animal configuration, the stuffing-filled compartment being pushed toward a periphery when the toy is in the second ball configuration to help form a spherical external shape in the second ball configuration.
 2. The toy of claim 1, wherein the invertible body defines first and second edges that are operable to be secured together when the body is in either the first animal configuration or the second ball configuration.
 3. The toy of claim 1, wherein the body includes appendages that are contained in an interior region of the body when the body is in the second ball configuration and that extend outwardly from the body when the body is in the first animal configuration.
 4. The toy of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the second ball configuration forms the enclosed space in the first animal configuration.
 5. A toy comprising: an invertible body movable between a first animal configuration and a second ball configuration; an opening formed in the invertible body, the opening having first and second edges that are operable to be secured together when the body is in either the first animal configuration or the second ball configuration to close the opening; an enclosed space, defined by the outer surface of the toy in the second ball configuration, in an abdomen region when the invertible body is in the first animal configuration; and a stuffing-filled compartment up a front of an abdomen portion of the first animal configuration, the stuffing-filled compartment being pushed toward a periphery when the toy is in the second ball configuration to help form a spherical external shape in the second ball configuration.
 6. The toy of claim 5, wherein the body includes appendages that are contained in an interior region of the body when the body is in the second ball configuration and that extend outwardly from the body when the body is in the first animal configuration. 